Concept

Version 30.1 by Jagoda R. on 2026/01/29 10:52


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CONCEPT
https://purl.semanticip.org/linked-data/sdmxsrlocalization/concept/CONCEPT page_white_text TTL
Concept

Unit of thought created by a unique combination of characteristics.

At an abstract level, a Concept is defined in the Generic Statistical Information Model (GSIM) as a "unit of thought differentiated by characteristics". Concepts are used in different ways throughout the statistical lifecycle, and each role of a Concept is described using different information objects (which are subtypes of Concept). A Concept can be used in these situations:

(a) As a characteristic. The Concept is used by a Variable to describe the particular characteristic that is to be measured about a Population. For example, to measure the Concept of gender in a population of adults in Spain, the Variable combines this Concept with the Unit Type "person".

(b) As a Unit Type or a Population. To describe the set of objects that information is to be obtained about in a statistical survey. For example, the Population of adults in the Netherlands based on the Unit Type of persons.

(c) As a Category to further define details about a Concept. For example, Male and Female for the Concept of Gender. Codes can be linked to a Category via a Node (i.e. a Code Item or Classification Item), for use within a Codelist or Statistical Classification.

In SDMX the Concept can be given a core Representation such as a reference to a Codelist for an enumerated Representation or other values such as "integer" or "string" for a non-enumerated Representation. This Representation can be overridden in the data structure when the Concept is used as a Dimension or Attribute. A Concept with a core Representation could be regarded as a represented variable.

Category, Code, Code list, Statistical data and metadata exchange, Representation, Dimension, Attribute

urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.conceptscheme.Concept=SDMX:CROSS_DOMAIN_CONCEPTS(2.0).CONCEPT

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), "Generic Statistical Information Model (GSIM)", Statistical Classification Model v1.1 (2013)

Concept scheme, Dimension, Metadata structure definition

Used in the following terms: Adjustment, Artefact, Attachment level, Attribute, Categorisation

More (51)Category, Code, Codelist, Coherence - internal, Coherence, Comment, Comparability, Compiling agency, Concept Scheme, Confidentiality - redistribution authorisation policy, Confidentiality - status, Content-Oriented Guidelines, Cross-domain Concept, Data Structure Definition, Data update - last update, Dataflow, Dimension, Dissemination format - other formats, Documentation on methodology, Expenditure according to purpose, Geographical coverage, Group key structure, Hierarchy, Institutional mandate - legal acts and other agreements, International String, Language, Level, Metadata Key, Metadata Set, Metadata Structure Definition, Metadata repository, Metadata update - last certified, Metadataflow, Occupation, Preferred scale, Reference area, Reference metadata, Representation, Series Key, Series, Sex, Statistical concepts and definitions, Statistical indicator, Statistical subject-matter domain, Statistical variable, Time period - collection, Timeliness - source data, Title complement, Title, Unit of measure, Valuation



Backlinks: 1 Purpose and Structure, 11 ItemSchemeMap, 11 Transforming between versions of SDMX, 12 Validation and Transformation Language (VTL), 15 Validation and Transformation Language

More (18)3 Guide for SDMX Format Standards , 3 SDMX Base Package, 4 General Notes for Implementers, 4 Specific Item Schemes, 5 Data Structure Definition and Dataset, 5 Reference Metadata, 6 Codelist, 7 Metadata Structure Definition and Metadata Set, 9 Concept Roles , Change History, Part I. Message Namespace, Part II.Common Namespace, Part III. Structure Namespace, Part IV. Data and Reference Metadata Namespaces, Part VI. Samples, SDMX 3.1 Standards. Section 1. Framework, SDMX 3.1 Standards. Section 5. Registry Specification: Logical Interfaces, Schema and Documentation


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